Google Wallet

Google has announced the latest feature that will be coming to the Wallet app. Said feature is called "Orders" and this particular update will begin rolling out to Android users this week. As the name of the feature would suggest, Orders will allow you to keep track of your purchases.

When it comes to mobile payments, we’ve long been frustrated by the lack of utility. Google Wallet has been blocked in favor of other services like Isis, with many credit card companies wary of the service altogether. Using KitKat’s new Host Card Emulator feature, both Visa and Mastercard are ready to make mobile payments happen in a big way.

Google has recently shared details on the latest update for Wallet, and this one expands upon what we have been seeing with earlier updates. The latest Google Wallet update will be dealing with loyalty program cards. Specifically, Google will be making it even easier to add those loyalty cards to your Wallet account.

Isis launched nationwide with support from three of the four major US carriers. The carriers included T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Wireless. But aside from the carrier support, Isis also launched with payment support coming by way of American Express and Chase.

With Google Wallet cards arriving to consumers this week (we got ours last night), Visa has attacked on the other side. Introducing V.me, Visa is set to offer an online payment solution to rival the likes of Google, Amazon, and PayPal. The service recently launched in parts of Europe, and offers a secure way to pay for goods online.

A new Google wallet feature allows you to take a picture of your card to save it’s information. By simply snapping a pic of the front of the card, Wallet will save the card number and expiration date for use. That assumes you can readily find a tap-and-pay portal to use it.

The latest Google Wallet app update has hit the Play Store. Essentially, this brings the Play Store version of the Wallet up up to what Nexus 5 users had, at least feature wise. The version numbers are different. The Nexus 5 has Wallet version 2.0-R137-v13-RELEASE while the new Play Store version is coming as 2.0-R133-v14-RELEASE. Version number specifics aside, Google has also updated the support page with mention of Kit Kat.

Google released an update for Wallet back in September that added support for a wide variety of additional devices. Of course, that same update also brought a shift of focus. Wallet went from being an app that allowed those with an NFC capable device to make in-store payments to being an app that is heavily focused on sending money to others and storing loyalty/reward cards for various retailers.

Just before Google I/O, rumors surfaced that Larry Page shelved an idea for a physical Google Wallet card. The only thing we really knew was that the program wasn’t up to snuff, though the gritty details were not disclosed. Google Wallet’s chief then stepped down, signaling a shift in the way Wallet would proceed.

Isis mobile payments are now available nationwide. The mobile payment solution launched with support for three of the four major US carriers and will work with select devices and at select retail locations. The carrier support includes T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Wireless -- and each have a different version of the Isis Mobile Wallet app available.